Saint Mary's Catholic Church

Saint Mary’s Catholic Church is located in Marshall, Michigan.

History

The first Catholic church at the corner of Eagle and Green Streets was started in 1851 and completed two years later [1]. During the pastorate of Peter Baart, the cornerstone of the new Saint Mary’s Catholic Church was dedicated October 21, 1888, an event witnessed by close to 4,000 people from Marshall, Battle Creek, Albion, and points in between. The church, dedicated October 27, 1889, was built of the gothic style in a striking red pressed brick with window sills and caps forged from Ionia sandstone and slate covered roof. The 96-foot tower stands at the northeast corner of the building with a 10-foot cross mounted at its peak [2]. It underwent renovations during its century year (1988).

Inside we must go to see the real beauty of the structure. The woodwork both in style and color the plastic work and bronzing of the frieze the frescoing and decorating in connection with the windows show that artistic eyes and master hands planned and carried out the designs for there is a pleasing harmony in all these parts which could only have resulted from the labor of those thoroughly skilled in their art. The altar and sanctuary furnishings are also in perfect harmony with the whole and yet with all this the eye is involuntarily drawn to the exquisitely beautiful painting just above the altar and reaching nearly to the stained glass skylight in the apex of the dome over the sanctuary. It is the picture, after Murillo, of the Immaculate Conception, and is thought to be the finest copy in this State, as the face of Mary in this picture is regarded as perfect – something which is seldom accomplished by the best of artists. Just above the picture, is the cross, appearing through the clouds – suggesting the reason of the Immaculate Conception [2].

The interior woodwork was created by local master-craftsman Frederick N. Church, who also constructed the Cronin House, and was nearing completion at the time of his death in 1890 [3].

John attended elementary classes at Saint Mary’s School, located west of the church along Green Street (he moved to Marshall High School in time for his freshman year in 1951). The first school (or “Academy”) opened in 1856 and was staffed by Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary brought in from Monroe, Michigan [1]. A second building was constructed in 1883 [1], replaced by a third in 1954; classes were held there until 1977.

A rectory was located south along Eagle Street (and north of the eight-sided Pendleton-Alexander House). Baart Hall, built in 1901 and financed through the book sales of its namesake, was west of the school but razed in 1977 to build a new parish hall [1].

Today the church is part of Saint Mary’s Parish of the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

Bellairs Corpus

Saint Michael’s Church in Duston Heights, Massachusetts, was where Johnny Dixon, his grandparents, and their neighbor, Professor Childermass, attended church. The building also operated a school where Johnny attended elementary classes (The Curse of the Blue Figurine).

The names of some real priests from Saint Mary’s have figured into the books:

• Peter Baart (1858-1908), rector of St. Mary’s from 1881 until his death, inspired the name of the sinister Remigius Baart (The Curse of the Blue Figurine, 16).
• James Calahan, priest from 1908 to 1919; the name Calahan is referenced as being someone Lewis is familiar with (The Figure in the Shadows, 54).
• George Higgens, priest from 1946-48, shares a similarly spelled name with Thomas Higgins (The Curse of the Blue Figurine, 28).
• Coincidently, Saint Mary’s opening dedication in 1889 was attended by the Right Reverend John S. Foley, the Bishop of Detroit. One wonders if Strickland had this name in mind when he introduces Father Foley, the new priest at Lewis Barnavelt's church (The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost, 5).

Address

• 214 South Eagle Street

External links

• Saint Mary's Catholic Church
• Peter A. Baart at Find a Grave

Reference

1. A History of Marshall; Richard Carver (1993); pg. 289. 351
2. Services and Sermons at the Laying of the Corner Stone Dedication St Mary's Church, Marshall Michigan as reported by the Marshall Statesman (1890); pg. 3, 31-2.
3. Nineteenth Century Homes of Marshall; Mabel Cooper Skjelver (1971); pg. 12

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